THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
SPREADING THE SOUL-SAVING MESSAGE OF JESUs
(Chapters 4-5)
Introduction by narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. Spreading the soul-saving message of Jesus. And now, Timothy Sparks and Ben Bailey.
Ben Bailey:
“Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter” (1 Pet. 4:16). I’m Ben Bailey.
Timothy Sparks.
And I’m Timothy Sparks. Welcome to our study of 1 Peter This lesson is being brought to you by individual members and congregations of the churches of Christ. We invite you to visit the church of Christ in your area. You will find people who love God, and who are interested in going to Heaven. We are making each of these broadcasts available completely free of charge on CD or DVD. If you would like a complimentary copy of this lesson or any of our other lessons, you may log onto our website at www.thegospelofchrist.com, fill out the request form you will find there, and we will be happy to send to you whatever you need. We will not even charge you for the postage. We would like to help you in your study of God’s Word in any way that we can.
In 1 Peter 4, we learn about the name “Christian,” and how our conduct as Christians must be worthy of that name.
Ben Bailey:
The name “Christian” is not a name to be used flippantly. It represents something very serious. Nor should we ever be ashamed to suffer as a Christian. There may be a time in your life when you feel like being ashamed of being a Christian. Do not be ashamed of Christ! He sacrificed Himself for us on the cross. People laughed at Him, spat on Him, and mocked Him. If people laugh at us or ridicule us for being a Christian, we should not be ashamed. Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ” (Rom. 1:16). Neither must we be ashamed of Christ or His Gospel. In 1 Peter 4, Peter therefore stresses that we must conduct ourselves worthy of the Gospel of Christ.
Timothy Sparks:
Peter stresses in 1 Peter 4:1-4 that we must not live for our own fleshly lusts or desires. In verse 3, he says, “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.” We already have spent too much time doing what we want to do. We have focused on pleasing “me, myself, and I.” Today, so many adopt the attitude of, “if it feels good, do it,” and concentrate on purely fleshly pursuits. Peter reminds us not to give in to fleshly appetites and lusts, but instead to focus on the will of God. This reminds us of 1 John 2:15-17, where John wrote,
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
If we want to live forever, then we have to do the will of God, which abides forever. Peter, earlier in his epistle, referred to the “enduring nature” of the Word of God. Too many people find out too late in life that the only life that is worth living is a life lived for God. The writer of the Book of Ecclesiastes summed it up well when he wrote, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Eccl. 12:13-14). That is the reason the writer of Ecclesiastes encourages young people with these words: “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’” (Eccl. 12:1). So many people come to the end of their life, look back, and realize that they wasted their life on their own pleasures. Peter is stressing that we must focus on issues with eternal consequences, because they are what really matter; they are what are important. We must live for God on a daily basis.
Ben Bailey:
In 1 Peter 4:5, Peter says that people will “give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” One of the reasons that we should live soberly, righteously, and godly is because of the coming Judgment Day! One day, we will all stand before the judgment bar of God. In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Paul made it clear that we will give an account for the things we have done in this life. Ecclesiastes 12:14 makes it clear that on that day, God will judge us even for the secret things that we think no one knows we have done. In light of the fact that there will come a Day of Judgment, and in light of the fact that God’s Word is the standard by which we will be judged (Jn. 12:48), we need to live lives that are acceptable and worthy of the Gospel. In 1 Peter 4:7, Peter goes on to say, “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.” We must be people who take life seriously. If there was just one message that I could get out to young people, it would be this: Take life seriously! Your life is nothing about which to joke around. Do not be flippant about how you live your life, because when this life is over, we are going to spend eternity somewhere. If we live according to God’s will, then we can go to live with God in Heaven. But if we live life like it is a game, will it be any big surprise when we end up in Hell with the devil? We must be serious in life, and in our prayers. We must pray that we do God’s will, and we must work to spread the Gospel, so that we can one day enter into Heaven.
Timothy Sparks:
When Peter tells us not to live for ourselves any longer, he is trying to get us to realize that we should not “run with the crowd.” In verse 4, Peter writes, “They think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation.” Peter’s point is that whereas a person might have committed evil acts in the past, he no longer can do so as a Christian. We must live as God says for us to live, because it is a matter of our own salvation. In verse 8, Peter tell us how to direct our energies. Instead of being involved in our own lusts, and thereby wasting our lives, we should rather be concentrating on genuine love that is God-glorifying. He says, “Above all things, have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.” Peter uses in this context the Greek word agape, which is the highest, noblest kind of love. It is the type of love that has another person’s best interests in mind. We are to have fervent love. The word “fervent” comes from a Greek word that means “to be hot.” We are to be “on fire” in our love for one another. We are to be zealous in our love. This means that we will go out of our way to do what is best for someone else. We no longer are trying to serve our own desires. Sometimes, this may even mean that we will have to rebuke one another. Paul had to withstand Peter to his face because he played the part of the hypocrite (Galatians 2:11-12). Paul exhibited genuine love when he took that action. At other times, genuine love will cause us to weep with those who weep. When Lazarus died, Jesus wept. And those who saw Him weeping said, “Behold, how He loved him!” Genuine love also requires that parents discipline their children. Christians ought to always be known for their love. Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn. 13:35). People will not know that we are genuine Christians because we have a big building on Main Street. They will not know we are Christians because we put “Church of Christ” on a sign outside the building. They will know we are true Christians if we genuinely love one another. This requires us to conform to the highest standard—agape love. And that, in turn, means that sometimes we will have to “bite our tongues” in order to keep our anger in check.
Ben Bailey:
In 1 Peter 4:11, Peter addressed that very idea when he said, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.” As a Christian, I must learn to speak with the Word of God in mind. Colossians 4:6 teaches us, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” People are not going to know that we are Christians because we dress a certain way, or because we look a certain way. Rather, they are going to know that we are Christians by the way we speak and act. We must speak “as the oracles of God.” This certainly applies to the religious world of today, when all too often it is “anything goes.” When it comes to God’s message, the only type of correct speech is that which God has authorized. We are to speak as God has spoken when it comes to religious matters. We are to do only those things that God has commanded us to do. In 1 Corinthians 4:6, we are told not to go “beyond that which is written.” John wrote in Revelation 22:18-19,
“For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
The writer of Proverbs wrote, “Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar” (Prov. 30:6). If we cannot support what we say from God’s Word, then we should not say it!
Timothy Sparks:
When others make fun of us or castigate us as Christians, the natural inclination on our part is to “fire back” and say something that we should not say. Perhaps we should remember, “When to others you are tempted to talk, five things observe with care: to whom you speak; of whom you speak; and how, and when, and where.” We know from James 3 that the tongue can produce “a world of iniquity.” It can be like a small match that can set an entire forest on fire. Peter says in 1 Peter 4:12, “Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you.” Peter’s point is that when we undergo trials and tribulations as a result of those outside of the body of Christ, we should not be surprised. We are going to be persecuted (2 Tim. 3:12). People are not going to look kindly upon Christians or Christianity. This is something we must expect. What Peter is trying to get across is that when we suffer, we must suffer as a Christian. And we must not be ashamed, but instead, we should glorify the name of God. However, in verse 15, Peter says, “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters.” If we suffer as a wrongdoer, then we get exactly what we deserve. But if we suffer on behalf of Christ, then we should rejoice at the opportunity to do so. In Acts 5, Peter and some of the other apostles were beaten because they preached the Gospel. Yet in verse 41 of that chapter, we read that the rejoiced “that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.” We can be people who bring glory to God through our sufferings, but in order to do that, we must live up to that holy name.
Ben Bailey:
The name “Christian” (e.g., Acts 11:26; 26:28) is used to describe Christ’s disciples. Peter says in 1 Peter 4:17-18, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” Peter’s point is that we, as Christians, are the standard. Judgment ought to begin with us, because we wear Christ’s name. Those who have not obeyed the Gospel will not be able to stand on the Day of Judgment, because they do not wear Christ’s name. The word “scarcely” is interesting. In Acts 27, Luke uses the same Greek term, but in a nautical sense. As he described his journey with Paul around a certain island, he said it was “with great difficulty” that they succeeded. The point is that it took careful planning and legitimate effort. Peter is not saying here that “righteous people will ‘scarcely’ be saved”—as if to say that only 1 out of 100 will be saved. The Bible teaches that all those who are righteous will be saved. Peter’s point is that if it is only with “careful planning and legitimate effort” that the righteous will be saved, then think of what will happen to the ungodly! On the Day of Judgment, how sad it will be for those who have not named the name of Christ.
Timothy Sparks:
There will be no pardon or compassion for those who, as a result of their own stubborn will, resisted the will of God. Peter makes it clear that we can glorify God, but to do so we must be faithful Christians, and we must live up to that worthy name. In 1 Peter 5, we learn that Peter, although an apostle, also was an elder. In verses 2 and 3, Peter says to his fellow elders, “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” Elders are to be people who are not in the position of leadership for personal gain. Rather, they are to be people who can point others to Jesus, knowing that Christ will give them “a crown of glory that will not fade away” (vs. 4). When Jesus comes again, He is going to reward those who were true spiritual shepherds of His flock. Elders must take their job very seriously because, as Hebrews 13:17 points out, they will give an account to God, not only for their own souls, but also for the souls of the Christians they oversee.
Ben Bailey:
This has to do with the idea of submission. In 1 Peter 5:6, Peter says, “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” We are to humble our will to God’s will. One of the greatest examples of this was when Christ said in the garden of Gethsemane, “Not my will, but Your will be done.” This is an example of an humble, submissive person who is intent on doing the will of God. Do we have that type of attitude?—the type of attitude that says, “Whatever God says, that is what I am going to do” That is what it means when it says that we must “humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God,” so that He one day may exalt us. In verse 7, Peter tells us to cast all our cares on God, because He cares for us. The word for “cares” could be translated “anxieties.” How should we handle problems and suffering? One way is through prayer. The word “cast” means “to hurl.” We are therefore to “hurl” all our cares upon God, because He cares for us. The Bible tells us that if we pray according to God’s will, He will hear us. Great power is found in prayer. James said, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (Jas. 5:16). The Lord Himself said, “Men always ought to pray and not lose heart” (Lk. 18:1). As God’s children, we need to pray earnestly to ask Him to help us with the problems that we experience in this life.
Timothy Sparks:
We learn from 1 Peter 5:8-9 that we have a great enemy. Peter tells us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” The devil, who is depicted as a lion, is our greatest enemy, our greatest adversary. Satan, the lion, is on the prowl, hunting for people. That should not scare the faithful Christian, because we can resist him. We have the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Eph. 6:10-18). James says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (Jas 4:7). Yes, the devil is against us. But as Paul asks in Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” We can overcome the devil. As John put it in 1 John 4:4, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” God and Christ live in Christians, which give us the power to overcome the devil. As Peter closes his first epistle, he says, “This is the true grace of God in which you stand” (vs. 12). We could call this epistle “the epistle of true grace.” We have the “true grace” of God if we are standing firmly on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:
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1. In 1 Peter 4, we learn about the importance of a noble name. What is that noble name?
2. What did Peter mean when he said in 1 Peter 4:1-4 that “we have spent enough of our past time in doing the will of the Gentiles”?
3. Explain the connection between 1 John 2:15-17 and 1 Peter 4:1-4.
4. According to Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, what is man’s “all”?
5. What is the message of the writer of the Book of Ecclesiastes for young people (Eccl. 12:1)?
6. According to 1 Peter 4:5, there will come a day when all people will have to do something. What is that “something”?
7. In John 12:48, Jesus identified the standard by which all men will be judged. What is that standard?
8. What did Peter mean when said, “They think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation” (1 Pet. 4:4)?
9. If we have agape love for someone, what does that mean?
10. Explain what Peter meant when he said, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Pet. 4:11)?
11. In this lesson, the point was made that people will not recognize Christians by the way they dress or the way they look, but instead by two other things. What are those two other things?
12. What did Paul mean when he wrote, “Do not go beyond the things that are written” (1 Cor. 4:6)?
13. Explain the meaning of Peter’s statement in 1 Peter 4:12, “Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you.”
14. How do we know that Peter was an elder as well as an apostle?
15. What did Peter mean when he said, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God” (1 Pet. 4:17)?
16. According to Hebrews 13:17, elders will give an account to God for whom?
17. If we want God to exalt us, what must we do first (1 Pet. 5:6)?
18. According to 1 Peter 5:7, what are we to do with our “cares”? Why?
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, 607 McLish Ave., Ardmore, OK 73401; (580) 223-3289; www.thegospelofchrist.com